Finding a Job Is Your First Full-Time Job, Says Expert

New York — May 6 If you are one of the increasingly large numbers of students graduating without a job, take heart. There are things you can do to join the ranks of the working class.

“The downturn in the economy will make it essential for all job-seekers to work harder to find a position,” said Robert Graber, the founder of WallStJobs.com. “Don’t think that you can take some time off and wait for the market to improve. It is essential that you hire yourself to find a job now.”

Graber offered some suggestions:

Go back to the well: Contact firms where you had some interest. Even if you did not get the job, send a follow-up note expressing your continued interest. The person they hired may not work out.

Leverage your alma mater: Hopefully you have already been to your school’s career office. Couple that with using social networking and professional linking sites to search for alums who might be in a position to help a fellow graduate. “I heard of one person who read wedding announcements to find college alumni,” said Graber.

Expand your horizons: Look at firms outside the state. If necessary, subscribe to out-of-state papers for leads. Contact local trade groups in your specialty and ask for assistance.

Take the temp: Be flexible. Register with temporary services that have expertise in your field of interest. Even if you are light on experience, offer to work for a lower wage to gain some real-world experience and get inside a company where you can demonstrate your ability.

Cast a wide net: Update any Internet job boards you may have already registered with. Be sure your posting is current and your resume is perfect. “Use specialty sites that focus on your industry preferences, even if they seem small. They are more often read by firms who are seriously looking to hire.”

Graber cautioned that frustration and a “doom and gloom” mentality will tempt some people to put off looking for a job. “Don’t fool yourself into thinking that by waiting, your odds of getting something will improve. The only thing you are doing is ceding current opportunities to more motivated people. Gird yourself to what will certainly be a challenge, but in many ways it is your chance to prove to yourself and to potential employers that you are highly motivated.”

Graber concluded by saying there is really only one valid excuse not to be devoting all your waking time to job hunting, and that is when you are on a temp assignment. “Think of every temporary work assignment as an extended job interview,” he advised.